Cartridge-loader



(No Model.)

W. H. H-AMNER.

GARTRIDGB LOADER.

Patentd May 31, v18 92.

/NVENTOR/ ATTOREYS ilNrrEio States ATENT Qrrtcs.

lVILLIAM H. HAMNER, OF FORT ASSINABGINE, MONTANA.

CARTRlDGE-LOADER.

SIJECIFIOATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 476,048, dated May 31, 1 892.

Application filed April 11, 1891. Serial No. 388,504. (No model.)

To all whom it may ooncern:

Be it known that l, XVILLIAM H. HAMNER, ofFort- Assinaboine, in the county of Choteau and State of Montana, have invented a new and Im proved Cartridge-Loader, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact descripticn.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved cartridge-loader which is simple and durable in construction,arranged to accurately measure the charge of powder and shot, adapted to delivcr the desired wads in regular order of loading` for each cartridge, and also adapted to be worked with great case by hand.

The invention consists of certain parts and details and combinations of the same, as will be hereinafter fully described, and then pointed out in' the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing's, forming apart of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improvement. Fig. 2 is a front view of the same. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of part of the same. Fig. 4 is a sectonal elevation of the powder and shot measuring devices. Fig. 5 is aplan view of part of the same. Fig. 6 is an enlarged section of one of the measnring devices in a closed position. Fig'. 7 is a plan view of the cartridge crimping' and discharg'- ing device. Fig. S is a sectional side eleva- Lion of the same. Fig. 9 is an end view of the Cartridge-holder with part in section. Fig. 10 is an enlarged face view of the cartridge-crimping' device, and Fig. 11 is a sectional plan view of part of the improvement on the line y y of Fig. l. Fg. 12 is a detail view illustrating the plate U4 in its operative position; and Fig. 13 is a detail view of the hopper E, hereinafter referred to.

The improved cartridge-loader is provided with a suitably-constructed base A, adapted to be secnred to the end of a table 01' bench by clamps, screws, or other suitable means. On this base A is erected a frame B, on the lower part of which is pivoted an angular arm C', forming a part of the cartridge-holding device O and formed with a ring C2, in which is adapted to be secured a cylinder C3 by means of a set-scrcw C4 screwing in the exterior diameter of the cartidge-shell, the

said cylinder being detachable in the ring C2, so that cylinders of various diameters corretsponding to the various diameters of the shells can be employed.

The Cartridge-holder O is adapted to be swung into a Vertical position, as illnstrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, for filling the Cartridgeshell, or into a horizontal position, as illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, for crimping the cartridge after it is loaded, as hereinafter more .fully described. Vhen the Cartridge-holder C is in an upright position, then the upper end of the cylinder C3 is in line With a nozzle D, held in the end of a hopper E, through which the powder, shot, or wads are passed into the shell held by the holder O. The nozzle D can be removed from the hopper E, so as to be substituted by a nozzle. of the size corresponding to the size of the respective cylinder C3. The nozzle D is held in place in the hopper E by a set-screw E'.

In the upper end of the hopper E is arranged a transversely-extending cross-piece E3, formed in its center With a loop engaged by the plunger F for ramming Wads into the cartridge-shell. The plunger F is provided with a head F', arranged below the loop 'of the cross-piece E3, so that when the plunger F is raised above the normal position the said head F' engages the loop and raises the hopper. E out of contact with the cylinder C8 of the holding device. The hopper E is guided in its upand-down motion by a rod E2, pivotally connected to the upright of the frame B, and also pivotally connected with the said hopper, as is plainly illust'rated in Fig. 2. The plunger F is arranged vert-ically and is fitted to slide in suitable bearings in a. cross-piece of the main frame B, the upper end of the said plnnger being pivotally connected with aleverF2, pivoted on a post erected on the base A. On the lever F2 is held a spring-pressed latch F3, adapted to engage a cross'piece secured on the upper part of the main frame B, so that the lever F2, as Well as the plunger F, can be held in an uppermost position, so that the hopper E is disconnected from the holder C, as plainly illustrated in Fig. 1.

Into the hopper E are adapted to discharge ICC on opposite sides of the plunger F the powderfeed device G and the shot-feed device H. Both devices are provided with hoppers G' and H', respectively, containing powder and shot, respectively. The lower ends of the hoppers G' and H' connect with openings I', formed in a plate I, sccured upon the main frame B. The plate I supports a bolt 12, on which is mounted to turn a cut-off disk J, provided with a handle J' for conveniently turning the said disk on the bolt 12. The disk is provided with oppositely-arranged openings J2 and J3, respectively, adapted to alternately connect and disconnect with the openings I', connected with the lower ends of the hoppers G' and H', respectively.

From the under side of the cut-off disk J extend down wardly the shells JLL and JS, registering with the openings J2 and J2, respectively, the said shells containing the measuring devices K and L, respectively, for measuring the proper charge of powder and shot, according to the size of the cartridge to be filled. The measuring devices K and L are provided with the eylinders K' and L', eX- tending into the shells J4 and J', respectively, and adapted to be secured therein by thumbs'crews JG, passing through slots J7, formed vertically in the shells J4 and JG. The latter are graduat'ed along the slots J7, so that the charge is gaged according to the position of the `respective thumb-screw. The lower open ends of the cylinders K' and L' are adapted to be closed by hinged bottoms K2 and L2, respectively arranged to swing downwardly, being incloscd in a hood K3 or L3, respectively fastened to the lower end of the respective cylinder K' or L'. A spring K4 or L4, respectively, is secured to the under side of the respective bottom K2 or L2, the said springs being adapted to press upon a semicircular disk 13, supported on the lower end of the bolt 12, previously mentioned. The front edge of the disk Is is above the hopper E, as is plainly indic'ated in Fig. 1, so that when the respective measnring device K or L has swung beyond this front edge of the disk I3 its respective bottom K2 or L2 is free to open to permit the charge in the measuring device K or L to pass into the hopper E. Into the latter are also adapted to discharge the wad-feeding devices N and O, of which the deviceN is adapted to contain felt wads, while the other device O contains card-board wads. Both devices are provided with a common funnel P, adapted to discharge int-o the hopperE in front of the plunger F. The funnel P receives the respective felt 01' card-board wad over a plate Q, secured on the main frame B and containing two longitudinally-extending guideways Q' and Q2, (see Fig. 11,) in which are fitted to slide the plungcrs R and R', respectively fast-- ened on rearwardly-extending rods R2 and R2, respecti'vely, provided on their outer ends with knobs R4 and R5, respectively. Springs RG and R7 are coiled on the rods R2 and R3, respectively, so as to hold the plungers R and R' in a rearmost position, as plainly illustrated in Fig. 11.

Into the front end of the guideways Q' and Q2 open the lower ends of the feed-tubes S and T, respectively, held removably in the main frame B and provided at their upper ends with reeeptacles S' and T', into which the felt and card-board wads are placed. On the lower ends of the feed-tubes S and T are held the arms S2 and T2, respectively, engaging sockets Q2, erected on the plate Q and serving to suspend the lower ends of the said feed-tubes a sufficient distance 'above the guideways to permit the said feed-tubes to discharge the respective wad into the respective guideway Q' or Q2 to allow the plungers R and O', respectively, to push the respective wad into the funnel P. The feed-tubes S 'and T are made removable so as to insert feedtubes of varying diameter, according to lthe size of the Cartridge to be filled. The upper ends of the feed-tnbes are held in place by an arm S3, made of spring-Wire and pivoted at S4 to one side vof the main frame B. The other end of the spring-arm S3 is adapted to be passed over a projection or button S5, so as to lock the feed-tubcs in place, theplowerends of the same being held in the sockets Q2, as previously described.

In order to move 'the Cartridge-holder C into a horizontal position, as previously mentioned, a leverU is provided, fulcrur'ned at U' to the main frame B and' pressed on by a spring U2, so as to hold the said lever in a normal position. (Indicated in Fig. 1.) On the lever U is secured a spring U3, adapted to press on the cylinder C3 when the said lever is moved out of a normal position in the direction of the arrow a'. (See Fig. 7.) On the lever U is fastened a plate U4, extending vertically below the under side of the said lever and adapted to return the cartridge to its place in the holder, the filling end of the said plate UL1 being adapted to pass into vertical slots O5, formed partly in the ring C C2 and the cylinder O2. (See Fig. 9.) The plate U'l is adapted to engage the base of the cartridge-shell and press it up into the holder until the fork of the crimping-lever engages the base of the shell. In upsetting the cartridge-holder preparatory to crimping the shell sometimes slips down accidentally or partly out of the holder, so that the device is necessary to bring the shell back to the proper position. On the lever U is also sccured 'a horizontally-extending plate U5, having its ends forked, the inner sides being slightly inclined or beveled, so as to engage the Cartridge at opposite sides, the extreme ends of the fork being adapted to pass into recesses C0, formed in the said ring O2 and the cylinder O3. When the Cartridge-holder O is swung into a horizontal position, the projecting outer end of the Cartridge is adapted to engagethe disk V' of a crimping device V, illustrated in detai-l in Figs. 7 and 8. The disk V' is secured on a hub V2, mounted to turn in an arm of IIO - the hub V2, the inner end of the said rod being provided with ahead W2, adapted to be seated in a recess formed in the center of the disk V'. On the outerend of the rod V' is formed the head or kn ob 73, and on the latter presses one end of a spring WV4, coiled on the rod lV' and abutting against the handle V3. The spring 74 serves to hold the rod W' and its head W2 in the position shown in Fig. 8, so that the said head XV does not interfere with the workings of the crimping device.

The operation is as follows: lVhen the cartridge-loader is in the position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, then the lever U is in its normal position and entirely disconnected from the Cartridge-holder O, the latter, by its arm C', being free to swing into a normal posi-.

tion, so as to permit the operator to conveniently insert the Cartridge-Shell from underneath into the cylinder C3, the open end of the cartridge-loader extending above the cylinder 03, as plainly shown in Fig. 1, when the Cartridge is swung into a Vertical position, so that the face of the ring C2 rests on top of the horizontal part of the frame B. When the cartridge-holder is in position, 'as described, the operator disconnects the springpressed catch F3, so as to permit the lever F2 to swing downward, whereby the plunger-rod F slides downward and permits the nozzle D to be fitted over the project-img end of the cartridge-shell. (See Fig. 2.) The operator now takes hold of the lever J' with his left hand and pulls it to the front, so that the diskJswings in the direction of the arrow b', whereby the opening J2 is disconnected from the lower end of the hopper G', the measuring device being filled with powder. Now on this movement of the disk J the measuring device .K is carried along, so that tinally the spring K'tof thehinged bottom K2 of the said measuring device is disconnected at the front end of the plate 13, so that the bottom K2 swings downward and permits the powder in the measuring device to discharge into the hopper E, which guides the powder to the nozzle D connected with the u pper end of the vcartridge-shell. The powder is thus passed into the hopper. As soon as the operator has moved the lever J' into the position described, the operator presses upon the knob R4, so that the plunget-R slides out- Ward and moves the lowermost felt wad discharged by the tube S into the guideway Q' out of the latter into the funnelP, from which the wad passes into the hopper E after the powder is passed through the latter. The operator then presses on the lever F2, so that the plunger F moves downward and with its head F' presses the felt wad into the shell on top of the powder. Any desired number of felt wads may be thus passed into the shell, the operator pressing the knob R4 a corresponding number of times and Operating the lever F2, as above described. As soon as the desired number of wads are pressed upon the powder the operator moves the lever J' in the inverse direction of the arrow b', so that the shot-measuring device is disconnected from vthe hopper H' and is moved over the hopper E,

the swinging bottorn L2 opening to permit the same to pass into the said hopper Eaud from the latter into the cartridge on top of the felt wads. The operator then presses upon the knob or button R5, so as to push by the plunger R' a paper wad from the guideway Q2 into the funnel P, from which the wad passes into the hopper E to be finally moved on top of the shot by the operator actuating the lever F2, and consequently the plunger F. Any desired number of paper or card-board wads can thus be passed on top of the shot, theoperator repeatedly pressing the button R5. It is understood that at the time the powder-measuring device K is dischargin g into the hopper E the shot-measuring device registers with its hopper, so that the said Ineasuring device is filled with shot, and when the lever J' is moved, so that the shot-measuring device discharges into the hopper E, then the powdermeasuring device registers with its hopper G' to be filled with powder. In order to prevent the operator from moving the lever J' too far in either direction, the disk J is provided with a segmental slot JS, through which passes the plunger F, which latterthus forms a stop-pin. (See Fig. 5.) When the shell is loaded with powder, shot, or wads, as described, then the operator moves the lever F 2 in an uppermost position, so that the springpressed catch F3 locks the said lever, the plunger F, and the hopper E in an uppermost position. (Shown in Fig. 1.) The operator then VVmoves the lever U in the direction of the arrow Va', so that the spring U3, pressing against the cylinder C3, causes the holder to swing into a horizontal position, the cartridge being prevented from falling out of the cylinder by the plate U4. The Cartridge is securely locked in position after the cylinder 03 extends horizontally in line with the crimping and dischargin g device by the forked ends of the plateUG. At the time the holder O, passes into a horizontal position the projecting end of the Cartridge passes into the disk V', as plainly illustrated in Fig. 8, and when the operator now turns the handle V3 the said disk is revolved and byits projection V*l engaging the outer end of the shell crimps the latter, so as to securely lock the ou term ost wad in place. Three or four turns of the handle V3 are usually necessary in order to ac- .complish perfect cri mping. The operator then IOO IIO

mal position. (Shown in Fig. l.) The operator then presses upon the knob WS, so as to force the rod W' and its head 'VW against the outer end of the Cartridge, so that the latter slides out of the cylinder O3 and passes into a chute Z, extending down Ward from the base A. The holder C is then moved into an inclined position by the operator and a new shell is inserted therein,after which the holder and its shell are moved into a Vertical position and the above-described operation is repeated. By adjnsting the respective cylinder K' or L' of the measuring device K or L, respectively, a larger or less quantity of powder or shot is measured at a time to form a corresponding charge for larger or smaller cartridges.

It will be seen that the apparatus is very simple and durable in construction, is easily manipulated by hand, and accurately measures the charges of the powder and shot, and at the same time permits of ramming as many wads as desired into the cartridge-shell between the powder and shot and on top of the shot.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In a cartridge-loader, a Cartridge-holder eomprising an angular pivoted arm adapted to swing the holder out of line with the plun-v ger, a ring secured on the angular arm, and a cylinder adapted to be secured at its base in the said ring to swing with the arm out of line with the plunger, substantially as described.

2. In a cartridge-loader, the combination, with a feed-hopper provided with a crosspiece, of a plunger arranged centrally with the said hopper and passing through an opening in the said cross-piece, and a head held on the plunger to engage the said cross-piece to raise the hopper when the plunger is raised, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a cartridge-loader, the combination, with a feed-hopper provided with a crosspiece, of a plunger arranged centrally With the said hopper and passing through an opening in the said cross-piece, ahead held on the plunger to engage the said cross-piece to raise the hopper when the plunger is raised, and a lever for actnating the said plunger, substantially as shown and described.

4. In a cartridge-loader, the combination, with a feed-hopper provided with a crosspiece7 of a plunger arranged centrally with the said hopper and passing through an opening in the said cross-piece, a head held on the plunger to engage the said cross-piece to raise the hopper when the plunger is raised, and a spring-pressed catch held on the said lever and adapted to lock the latter, the plunger, and the hopper in an uppermost position, substantially asshown and described.

5. In a cartridge-loader, the combination,`

with a feed-hopper provided with a crosspiece, of a plunger arranged centrally with the said hopper and passing through an opening in the said cross-piece, ahead held on the plunger to engage the said cross-piece to raise the hopper when the plunger is raised, and a spring for supporting and returning the said plunger, substantially as shown and described.

G. In a cartridge-loader, a feeding device for powder and shot, comprising two hoppers, a fiXed plate having apertures connected with the outlets of the said hoppers, a disk mounted to turn on the under side of the said plate and provided with oppositely-arranged openings adapted to alternately register with the apertures in the said plate, measuring devices held on the said disk and registering with the said openings, each measuring device comprising a cylinder held adjustably in a shell on the said plate, a spring-pressed pivoted bottom to close the cylinder, and a second fixed plate adapted to be engaged or disengaged by the spring of the pivoted door, substantially as shown and described.

7. In a cartridge-loader, a measuring device comprising a disk mounted to turn, and provided with a shell having a slot with graduated edges, a cylinder [itted to slide in the said Shell, a thumb-screw passing through the said slot and adapted to fasten the said cylinder to the said shell, a bottom pivoted on the said cylinder to close the lower end thereof, and a spring secured on the said bottom and adapted to engage a fixed plate to hold the bottom closed, substantially as shown and described.

8. In a cartridge-loader,ameasuringdevice comprising a disk mounted to turn, and provided With a shell having a slot with graduated edges, a cylinder fitted to slide in the said shell, a thumb-screw passing through the said slot and adapted to fasten the said cylinder to the said shell, a bottom pivoted on the said cylinder to close the lower end thereof, a spring secured on the said bottom and adapted to engage a fixed plate to hold the bottom closed, and a lever for. turnin g the said disk to engage and disengage the said spring with the fixed plate, substantially as shown and described.

9. In a cartridge-loader, the combination, with a holder adapted to hold a cartridge, of a lever for looking the cartridge in place in the said holder, and a crimping device arranged in line with the said holder and provided with a revoluble fianged disk having projections adapted to crimp the shell of the Cartridge, substantially as shown and described.

10. In a cartridge-loader, the combination, with a holder provided with a cylinder' adapted to hold a Cartridge, of a spring-pressed rod having a head and arranged to slide in line with the said cylinder to remove the cartridge from the said cylinder, substantially as shown and described.

11. In a cartridge-loader,a holder comprising a pivoted angular arm, a ring supported on the said arm, and a cylinder held in the said ring, in combination with a lever provided with a spring adapted to engage the said cylinder to swing the said holder into a IIO IIS

horizontal position, substantially as shown and described.

12. In a cartridge-loader, a holder eomprising a pivoted angular arrn, a ring supported on the said arm, and a cylinder held in the said ring, in combination with a lever provided with a spring adapted to engage the said cylinder to swing the said holder into a horizontal position, and a plate held in the said lever and adapted to engage the Cartridge to push the same into the said cylinder, substantially as shown and described.

13. In a cartridge-loader, a holder coinpris'- ing a pivoted angular arm, a ring supported on the said arm, and a cylinder held in the said ring, in combination with a lever provided with a sprin g adapted to engage the said cylinder to swing` the said holder into a horizontal position, and a forked plate held in the said lever to lock the Cartridge in the said cylinder, substantially as shown and described.

14. In a oartridge-loader, a holder comprising a pivoted angular arni, a ring supported on the said arm, and a cylinder held in the said ring, in combination with a lever provided With a spring adapted to engage the said cylinder to swing the said holder into a horizontal position, a forked plate held in the said lever to lock the cartridge in the said cylinder, and a crirnping device Operating in conjnnction with the said holder and lever to crilnp the Cartridge, substantially as shown and described.

WILLIAM I-I. HAMNER. Vitnesses:

J. F. MORRIsoN, V. C. BROADWATER. 

